Took a chance and went out today with varied success, on one hand I managed a peak speed of 45.078 knots but with rolling waves down the speed bank and gusts just over 50 knots the 10 second averages only managed 31.817 knots.
max. speed: 45.078knots 83.484km/h
100m: 36.029 knots 66.726km/h [111.2m 6.000s]
250m: 31.669 knots 58.651km/h [260.7m 16.000s]
500m: 23.336 knots 43.219km/h [504.2m 42.000s]
2s: 40.830 knots 75.618km/h [42.0m 2.000s]
20s: 30.632 knots 56.731km/h [315.2m 20.000s]
I took a 5m and 7m Ocean Rodeo Prodigy and chose the 5m because of the gusts, On rare occasions in lulls that followed squalls I was underpowered but in general I think the 7m would have been a handful so good choice. The stability of the Prodigy even allowed me to self launch by use of a Boat mooring buoy and a spare leash, even in the massive gusts the kite sat nicely at the window edge where I placed it before running to the chicken loop end to hook in, this is just what you want from a high wind kite. I did manage to have a 3 cartwheel wipeout at the 45 peak but I just threw the bar and the kite sheeted out without doing anything stupid, This is also a good trait for a kite especially when you are bouncing on the water at 45 knots, Ocean Rodeo I'm not sure how this happened but please don't change the Prodigy "if it's not broke don't fix it". I hope to be doing OK at Weymouth speed week in 3 weeks time so any incentives would be gratefully received

ben newman wrote:You went out all alone with 50K gusts ?
Don't let Rickl hear about it

Who's Ricki? should I search for his posts? Am I in trouble?
Although I was the only kite out I was in good company with a couple of speed windsurfers that know me and a few watching from the comfort of their vans. I don't take going out in extreme conditions lightly, I started kitesurfing in 2002 on whatever was available and have spent the last 3 years slowly becoming comfortable with big winds and holding down more power for speed riding, it doesn't stop you having spills and incidents but it prepares you for them. I usually wake up anxious when I know I'm heading for a high wind session in a few hours time and watch the 10 minute wind updates at my local speed spot for at least an hour before setting off, all that for an average 1 hour of speed riding, "but it's usually worth it".